I can tell you with absolute certainty what’s going to happen in 2015. And unlike Madam Ripoff, who will pretend to analyze your palm wrinkles if you lay down enough cash, I’ll tell you for free.
(Cue drumroll.) Here’s what’s absolutely, positively going to happen this year: Change.
I know this because I’ve lived a good many years and every single year, without fail, has brought change.
As Mr. Carson, the butler on “Downton Abbey,” lamented (in his inimitable way): “The nature of life is not permanence, but flux.”
Or to quote that sage, Rosanne Rosannadanna, from “Saturday Night Live”: “Well, it just goes to show you, it’s always something—if it ain’t one thing, it’s another.”
I don’t always resist change. I enjoy buying new clothes, rearranging the furniture, seeing new places, and learning new things, for example. But I’d like for many things to stay just the way they are, and sometimes God has to get out his heavenly crowbar to pry my fingers loose from those comforts and routines.
It’s hard for me to remember that in order to grab hold of God’s next blessing, I usually must let go of something that feels comfortable, safe, and good.
It reminds me of a true story told by a guy named Willie I knew years ago. Willie had an inspired idea one day while sitting at the kitchen table with his six-year-old son, Billy. Unbeknownst to Billy, Willie had a whole bag of M & Ms he wanted to give to his son. But first he wanted to teach a lesson, so he hid the big bag and gave Billy just a few of the candies.
Before Billy could pop them in his mouth, Willie said, “Hey Billy, could I please have one of your M & Ms?”
Billy looked at his candy… and at his dad…and at his candy.
“C’mon Billy – just one of them? Please?” Willie asked.
“But Daddy …” the boy moaned.
After some moments of agonizing struggle, Billy handed over one M & M to his father—a third of all the M & Ms in his little hand. When he did, Willie grinned and gave his son the big bag of candy.
Billy got more than M & Ms that day. He also learned an important lesson about letting go of our good things to take hold of God’s better things.
Change—losing to gain, letting go to take hold, leaving to find, ending to begin—can be scary. But God’s tremendous promise in Romans 8:28 assures us that if we are fully committed to following Jesus Christ, every change will ultimately work out for our good.
Every change. Even painful losses can eventually usher good things into our lives if we’re willing to trust God and let go of the negative emotions we often harbor when we must give up things we hold dear.
Romans 8:28 is true. I’ve lived it.
Over the years, I’ve lost a baby, my good health, family members, friends and a whole slew of other beloved things. Sometimes those losses have sent me reeling and broken my heart. But God has picked me up every time. He’s put my heart back together and brought new beginnings from every ending.
And so it will be in this coming year, and always.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear, for God is with me, and He is the one who works all things together for my good.
All things.
Yes, Roseanne Rosannadanna, it’s always gonna be something. If it ain’t one thing, it will be another, but God will still be God through it all. And He’ll still be good. And I’ll still be held in His loving hands.